I have been thinking again recently about these pictures I took a
couple of years ago when I was housesitting for some friends:
I can’t help but love baby animals... and I think these ones are exceptionally cute...
...but that's not the main reason these images have stuck in my mind.
Until the day these ducklings hatched, I had always read verses that
refer to taking refuge under God’s “wings” without giving a whole lot of
thought to the real-life situation from which this metaphor arises. These
verses didn’t create any mental images for me. I never thought beyond my
surface reading: it’s a symbol of
protection and safety.
Yes, I know it’s obvious, but I had never thought before about the
fact that the wing imagery reflects a mother-child relationship. As I watched
this mama with her beautiful little babies, I realized for the first time what
an incredibly comforting image this is. These ducklings are offered some degree
of physical safety under their mother’s wings, but they also feel safe because they are close to the one
who is nurturing and caring for them.
The words of Psalm 61:4 have since taken on a new depth of meaning
for me: “I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of
your wings.”
No comments:
Post a Comment